New Sea Doo buyer, have some questions

[motox25]

Hello, I am new to the PWC market. I grew up riding a 1991 Sea Doo and have decided to finally purchase my own. I have been looking at used ones as my first, and have found one selling locally for $2500. It is a 2001 Sea Doo GTX, 130HP 2 stroke Rotax, 3 seater, 145 hours. The price includes a trailer as well. Both appear to be in good shape from the pictures and I am told it runs well and has been garage kept (from the pictures it appears to be). What are some things I should be looking for apart from the shape of the hull, intake grill, and engine? Does this sound like a good deal? I am going tomorrow to look at it. Thanks in advance!

 

[Cossack]

Welcome to the forum and smart move asking for advice before you buy. Some of the longer term members can probably be of more help, but I'll tell you what I wish I had ask, known, or done before I bought my first skies this year. First, if at all possible ride the ski. Just because is cranks on the trailer and sounds good there doesn't mean it will run well in the water. Second, check the compression of the engine, easy test with inexpensive tool. Third, look at the fuel lines. Gray lines must be replaced. If they are gray it also means the carbs will most likely need to be at least cleaned or rebuilt. The fuel selector will also need to be cleaned or replaced. Check the impeller and wear ring for any damage or signs of items such as rope being caught up in them. Same with the intake grill. All except the compression are things that can be fixed by you if you have a little mechanincal skills.

I don't know about OK, but price is a little high for SC especially this time of year. I paid $3500 for both a 2001 GTX and 1997 GTX on a double trailer in July. But would have passed if I had know the above. Compression was good on both my skies but had to change the fuel lines, rebuild carb and wear ring on one, and install a new fuel pump on the other and it's still not right. Had I taken a test ride I would have know right away to pass. So now I'm closer to $5500 on my two and still at least $500 away from getting the second one right. Just my two cents.

 

[LouDoo]

Yep the price is too high, especially for this time of year. 145 hours is a lot for a 951, you can expect a rebuild at around 200 hours. If you decide to buy it check the compression it should be around 130-135psi, check the wear ring, if the ski has grey tempo fuel lines expect to change them along with cleaning the fuel system and rebuilding the carbs. And most important take it for a ride.

Lou

 

[Strizzo]

Price is definitely high, in my searching recently I've found that while prices in okc and surrounding area are a bit high, they are bottom barrel in Arkansas, so if you're close enough to make the drive, you could save a bit of money.

 

[motox25]

Ok thank you for the advice, I'm not sure I'll get to ride it before buying it, what do you think would be a fair price for the sea doo and trailer? I checked blue book value and it values at $2500 without a trailer but I know it doesn't take hours into account. I would probably have to end up taking it to the local sea doo dealer for a major rebuild, as the most ive ever done is carb rebuilds. Any idea how much that would cost? I've heard from a couple of places it'll end up costing around $400-$500 for a top end rebuild. Where is the wear ring I need to inspect?

 

[Minnetonka4me]

4-500 is too low on a 951 it should be more 7ish....and in most cases you are wasting your money doing a top end on a watercraft unless you have already rebuilt the crank. Cranks are very susceptible to water damage....esp 951s.


I would plan on changing out the fuel lines and fully rebuilding the carbs then let 'er buck till she dies...then fully rebuild it. expect a $2000 bill if you bring it somewhere...but your fuel system will already be rebuilt and so you should expect another 200 hrss trouble free.

 

[Cossack]

The wear ring is inside the jet discharge at the rear of the ski. Take a flashlight and look up inside where the impeller is located. The wear ring is the ring around the blades of the impeller. The space between the blades and the ring should not be any more than the thickness of a dime. There should also not be any pits or objects such as rope or branches caught up in there.

 

[anthonygrato]

Motox
I found that the nada guide is a good source for a price planer.look under boats and just plug in the info. Don't use the Kelly blue book prices because there are what you should pay from a dealer. You need to enter your zip code to get the vaule in your area. But they say in my area that ski is $3500 to 3750
Hope this helps!

 

[Pravius]

Motox
I found that the nada guide is a good source for a price planer.look under boats and just plug in the info. Don't use the Kelly blue book prices because there are what you should pay from a dealer. You need to enter your zip code to get the vaule in your area. But they say in my area that ski is $3500 to 3750
Hope this helps!

Actually when using Kelly Blue Book, you can choose dealer values or retail values. Kelly is my go to source, they are fairly accurate.

 

[bell99man]

I wouldn't pay $3500 for anything that old regardless of where you are. If that is the going rate, then I'd drive elsewhere to buy one. The thing about these toys is they are bought to ride as hard as possible from day one. Yes they are designed to take quite a bit of abuse, but at 12 plus years of this, you really should try to pay less than any guide pricing. I'd go more with what these guys recommend and don't settle on a machine you know needs work. You have plenty of time to shop around for a more attractive deal.

 

[anthonygrato]

Bell99man just because you would pay that much doesn't mean that's not the value. Now if the ski needs work I would not pay market value either. As far as driving if I found one and I did a lot cheap 120 miles away Iwould and i did drive else where.

 

[bell99man]

It's just an opinion based on overpaying on my first purchase. The 01 GTX sold for $9k or so new, so I think that a water toy retaining 1/3 it's value after 12 years of use, abuse and neglect is a bit high. I wasn't attacking you personally. I think this is where the guides are off. But I do think fair market value is what people are willing to pay. So, if 3500 is the going rate, then his deal is pretty decent. I won't stir up any more trouble. Sorry Anthony

 

[anthonygrato]

Well sorry to hear that. Blue book is created by the dealers I believe. This is why if you total a car the ins co. Refer to that then start deducting for milage wear previous damage ect... As far as the ski being decent I have no idea. I haven't seen the ski he speaks of and have no clue where he lives or what else is wrong with it. I was just trying give him some tools to help himself figue out what the value of the skis were. He should ask people question in my opinion. When it come down to it you are correct the ski is worth what someone is willing to pay for it. It all about supply and demand!!!

 

[motox25]

thank you everyone for your recommendations and advice, it has been a huge help. Today I went and checked out the pwc, it started easy. Didn't have the gray fuel lines they had been replaced with black ones. A couple of problems I saw were some scratches and chipped gel coat on the hull, didn't seem to damage the fiberglass at all though and no cracks. Also, the ski made a good amount of rattling near the impeller when ran for the little while we ran it, I've heard this is normal out of water though. Wear ring looked very solid as did the impeller with only a tiny amount of wear around the edges. A problem I saw was the intake grill had 2 bolts missing from it and it looks as if someone put some type of expoxy to seal up the threads. It seemed to hold up pretty well with only 2 of the 4 screws but that is something I would probably want to get fixed right? Yacht club trailer looked brand new. As for the price I got him to only come down to $2400...

 

[anthonygrato]

Motox
Did you buy it? Any pics? Did you try it on the water? I don't like the screws missing part with epoxy!

 

[motox25]

I didn't buy it, I figure with it being this time of the year I have some time to think it over. I wish I could try it on the water but I can't, it would make this decision so much easier! Yeah, the missing bolts was a huge problem for me too, but I figure I could probably fill the threads with something and replace the missing bolts right? I do have some pics though:

 

[anthonygrato]

It's nice looking. I'm not sure about filling the threads with something. To be honest I never took a grate off so what they thread into would be the issue. If it is metal I would get a tap and rethread the hole or try to go to the next size up. But again I never looked at mine. If you want I could try to pull mind to see. Maybe I could give you a better idea then. Did he say why it was missing? Why can't you test drive it?

 

[motox25]

Unfortunately I don't live very close to a lake. Its for sale at a car lot, he took it on a trade in and is reselling it so he's never had it on the water. That would be great if its not too big of a hassle, if it isnt a serious issue then I might seriously consider buying this one.

 

[anthonygrato]

ok when i get home from work today i will look at mine. and let you know.

 

[bell99man]

If you go back to this one, take a compression gauge with you. Since you can't water test it at least you will know if the motor is alright.

 

[summer]

Just because it has good compression does not mean the motor is alright. I made this mistake in early august. Bought a 98 GTX ltd. that had good compression and a fairly new SBT engine. Bought it without riding it. Still havent rode it any amount of time cause I have been working on it since day one. No offense to anyone that has or would do it, but personally I think if you buy one without riding it you may as well put on a blindfold and throw darts at pictures. Cosmetic looks and a smooth idle are no clue to what it can or cant do in the water. Learn from my mistake man, never buy one without riding it. Would you buy a car without driving it????

 

[anthonygrato]

I looked at mine today and the bolts were real tight. I was afraid I would break one so I stopped. Sorry motox

 

[Rmmick]

This is all great info. Just joined the "club" and am now looking at my first skiis. Bought a home on hiland lake in Michigan moving there from Cleveland. Anyway, I am looking at 2 1997 gti's including a tandem trailer...asking price is $3900. I have been paying attention to all the comments an will thoroughly go through both skiis including compression tests on each and riding each one. I have spoken to the owner, who on the phone at least seems to have taken care of these units. I guess I will tell a lot once I roll into his home and see how that looks...overall appearance and maintenance of home and lanscaping may be a good indicator of how he takes care of his toys as well. Although it will be a bit chilly, skiis are in Michigan, I will take a ride on each.

Pics look good, but they are just that, pics...question is this.....owner says that the compression is 130 for all cylinders and has offered to let me use his compression gauge, I am bringing my own however and will use both to see where we are at. Is 130 a decent compression for these units as they do not have the. "run time hours" gauge?

Also, based on overall condition, I was thinking more in the line of $3500 for the package. Does this seem about right in your opinion? These are me and my family's first skiis and I figure that this is good way and a good unit to break into not only the sport, but the lifestyle as well!

Any comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Cossack]

This looks like a GTX DI. If so, you might want to stay away. I've got one that looks just like this one. Idles well on the trailer but wont do more than 3500 RPM on the water. Everything is controlled through the MPEM so unless you have a Candoo, you will have to take it to a dealer to find out what's wrong with it. From what I've gone through and what I've read they are very difficult to figure out. I thought being fuel injected was a plus but these are not just fuel injected, they are direct injected which from what I can tell means the fuel is under high pressure being injected into the cylinder by the use of a compressor (One more part to fail). I've installed a new fuel pump, replaced the fuel injectors and director injectors, changed plugs, cleaned RAVEs, and checked the REEDs and still no improvement. I've now decided to sell it and have purchased a second 97 GTX.

 

[motox25]

Thats ok Anthony, thanks for looking though! Well, you guys have convinced me to see how it does on water so I will be testing it before buying, thank you again. Unfortunately I am limited to a "test tank" for testing but hey its better than nothing! I will also be performing a compression test on both cylinders to check compression and dig into the grate issue on the bottom of the ski. It will also need some work on the gelcoat but I need a project over the winter (thats half my reason for buying it) :thumbsup: